By Cedar Goslin

The Broadside

Come fall term the students lining up in the Boyle Education Center will feel a little less like they’re elbowing their way through a slow moving cattle chute– at least that’s the idea.

The Central Oregon Community College board of directors met on July 3 to vote on a proposal to remodel the Boyle Education Center. The proposal, prepared by Director of Construction Gene Zinkgraf, suggested accepting a bid from Griffin Construction to remodel Boyle hall for a total cost of $146,800. All expenses would be covered by the same bond funds that have paid for the construction of the new health and science buildings, meaning there is no additional impact on the college’s budget. The board of directors unanimously voted to approve Zinkgraf’s proposal and accept the bid from Griffin Construction.

The changes being made

The idea behind the remodel is to give Boyle a more practical layout, according to Zinkgraf. The main issue is the inadequate size and placement of the current information desk.

“It gets completely backed up and it’s not big enough for two people,” said Zinkgraf. “Now [after the remodel] they’ll have more space to work.”

A larger information desk is going to be built, and the current one will be used as an overflow area. Zinkgraf said the changes will not only make working conditions more comfortable for staff, but also reduce the build up of lines of students waiting for assistance. The lines will also be less obstructive to people passing through.

Julia Webb, who has worked in the Boyle information desk since summer 2009, said she’s looking forward the remodel because she thinks it will control the “insane” lines at the beginning of each term, and because she’ll have more space to work.

“It’s just very crowded in this little office,” said Webb. She also thinks that the new office will feel more “open and inviting,” which will benefit students approaching for assistance.

The other big change being made by the remodel is the relocation of the Campus Safety and Security office. It will be moving across the hall into what is currently the Massage Therapy

office.

“We believe it will be a higher profile area for them,” said Zinkgraf.

The new head quarters for Campus Safety and Security reflect and accommodate the growth of the program, according to safety officer Jim Bennett. The relocation will provide the program with a larger work space, new reception area, evidence storage room, and a separate room for interviewing and training.

“It will provide us with much better room to service the campus community,” said Bennett.

Boyle will also be getting a new student lounge in what was formerly a classroom; three computer kiosks will be added to the current lounge area, in addition to the copy machine already there, creating a work space for students.

In addition to these changes, the entrance level of Boyle is going to be repainted, the carpet will be replaced and new energy efficient light fixtures will be installed, which Zinkgraf says will provide better lighting for the work environment.

Timeline

The Boyle construction will begin during the summer term and continue throughout the season. Zinkgraf said they plan to be finished with construction by Sept. 14 and have everything ready in time for fall term to begin.

“We ask that people bear with us,” said Zinkgraf. “We try to get as much done during the summer as possible.”

(contact Cedar Goslin at [email protected])